Carlee's Christmas Wish List

I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve! Christmas is my favourite time of the year, especially because I love getting the opportunity to spoil my friends and family with gifts. Of course, I have a Christmas wish list of my own, and I'm hoping to see these gifts under the Christmas Tree tomorrow morning!

Depending on what time I fall asleep, waking up in the morning can be a major struggle. I just don’t have the energy (or the time if I snooze my alarm) to properly get ready. That’s where The Library of Fragrance Pure Soap comes into play. The company creates fragrances inspired by life, capturing over 300 scents that surround us every day. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to celebrate the under-appreciated sense of Ivory soap! Let me tell you, this perfume will come in handy. Whether you spray it as you quickly head out the door or in the bathroom at work, the Pure Soap fragrance will provide you with a fresh-from-the-shower scent anytime and anywhere. If you’re always in a hurry like I am or just too lazy like I also am, this might just be the best way to freshen up your day. You can buy a bottle of Pure Soap here at £15.00 for 30 ml.

After a very unfortunate incident at the airport, I lost my all-time favourite moisturiser. For years, I could never pin down the perfect product. No matter what I tried, my face, within a matter of 2 hours, would produce enough oil to fill a bottle. Somehow, I managed to stumble upon Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. I have worshipped this product ever since. The light cream sinks right into my skin and provides it with hydration all day long. The oil on my face was finally under control and it even helped with my acne. It’s crazy, but I feel so much happier when I use it because I know that it’s the only product that has had perfect results on my face. I cannot wait to receive this for Christmas. It will make my morning and night so much better! You can be just as happy by purchasing the moisturiser here at £34.00 for 50ml.  

I have to have lip gloss on me at all times; otherwise, I panic. As soon as my lips begin to feel dry, I have to moisturise. Even if they don't feel dry, I still have to touch-up my lips. Some might even call it an addiction. Any way, when I heard about Heathcote & Ivory’s new Secret Paradise collection, I knew I had to try something. As soon as I laid my eyes on the Secret Paradise Lip Gloss Tin, I had to put it on my Christmas list. It contains beeswax, which soothes and softens your lips. Not only is it peach flavoured (one of my favourite fruits), but it comes in the most adorable heart-shaped tin. The delicate heart features Madagascan violets and lilies and cute little hummingbirds. With this lip gloss, I will no longer be just a lip gloss freak. I’ll be a lip gloss freak with style. If you share my addiction, you can purchase the Secret Paradise Lip Gloss tin here at £4.00 for 14g.  

If I die, it will be death by chocolate. I can't live without it. If I was stranded on an island with nothing else but chocolate, that would be okay.

Since chocolate is part of my daily food intake, I had to find the perfect balance, which is why I love indulging in Doisy & Dam chocolate. Not only is it delicious, but it's healthy for you too! Each 74% chocolate bar is packed with delicious, health-giving superfoods. Each superfood ingredient brings high levels of vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein and Omega 3. The cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant properties of the dark chocolate almost make these bars guilt-free! There are currently four products in the range and I just love the Mulberries, Chia Seeds & Spirulina chocolate bar. After devouring it within minutes, I knew I would want more for the holidays.

For all of you chocoholics out there, Doisy & Dam chocolate bars are available in 40g (RRP £1.65) and 100g (RRP £3.99) and they are available from the website and selected retailers including Ocado, Whole Foods and Planet Organic.

I hope all of you lovely readers have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your gifts! 

Christmas Wish List for Our Lovely Men

With Christmas right around the corner, we at The Amazing Blog have been frantically trying to gather the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Needless to say, we have found shopping for the men in our lives particularly difficult. We’ve looked long and hard for products that men will both enjoy and actually use. Fortunately for us, we received samples from companies such as Marvling Bros, Ted Baker, Below The Belt and Luscombe. The stress of shopping for our men has finally come to an end.

Instead of the usual stocking stuffer, we decided to turn it up a notch by buying a gift with a manly kick. Marvling Bros World’s Hottest Chocolate Bars are the perfect fiery gift for men. Unlike most tasty treats, this chocolate bar presents them with a challenge rather than a chance to indulge in more Christmas chocolate. In other words, the chocolate is so hot that the company actually has to send safety instructions with it.

Paired with a bottle of the world champion hottest chilli powder, Carolina Reaper, together with two bars of extreme heat chilli chocolate, this little bar of dynamite, in a very clever mini matchbox, is sure to leave you begging for a glass (or gallon) of milk.

We feel this product is perfect for boys because, let’s face it, what man doesn’t love a challenge? World’s Hottest is available from the In-a-Matchbox website, priced at £5.99. For chilli lovers, Marvling Bros Ltd have also produced ‘Hot Stuff In A Matchbox’, four bottles of the hottest chilli powders in the world, priced at £5.99.

Looking for more than a stocking filler or gag gift? We’ve found the perfect package deal of essentials that will last long, put your shopping stress to rest and smack a smile on your man’s face. The Ted Baker Personal Best Wash Bag Gift Set includes an array of men’s grooming products, including a hair and body wash, body spray, and wrapped soap. If your man is always on the go, this is an ideal travel set - chic, affordable and actually effective. You can purchase this gift at your local Boots Store or at any Ted Baker location for £22.00. Browse the Ted Baker website to and take a look at this gift set or anything else your man desires.

We want the men in our lives to feel fresh and exude total confidence every day. Below the Belt Grooming has created skincare products that celebrate, cherish and protect all aspects of a man’s body, especially below the belt, leaving him confident and comfortable in his skin. For the athlete, check out the Sports Lubricant for £7.95. Whether your guy runs, plays golf or plays football, this product will prevent chafing or any unnecessary discomfort.

Do you ever feel like your boyfriend is just lazy and you are constantly nagging him to take a shower? Or, is your man just busy and always on the go? Buy them the Waterless Shower Groin Cleanser for £6.95; he doesn’t even have to take his trousers off to use it. He just has to rub it around the groin and crotch area before heading out and he’s all good to go.

For any man that just wants to make sure he stays fresh at all hours of the day, you can buy Fresh & Dry Balls for £6.95. All he has to do is apply it after a shower and he should smell clean all day long.

These products can only enhance the every day life for all the men out there. You can purchase the products here and even buy a trio of the products for £19.60. 

If your man has decided to go teetotal this Christmas, we've also discovered a delicious selection of soft drinks from Luscombe Organic Drinks. With flavours like Cranberry Crush and Wild Elderflower Bubbly to choose from, the bottled beverage company have a great variety to spice up your Christmas. Our favourite is Hot Ginger Beer; a spicy drink with a hint of lime, this leaves a slightly peppery feeling after you take a sip, perfect for keeping you toasty warm this Christmas. You can get a pack of 4 here for £5.99, as well as variety packs, if you can't quite decide.

Who needs Santa when the men in your life have you to shop for them?

Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair This Weekend

Still trying to figure out when you’ll have the time to go Christmas shopping? Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is here to help. The last fair of the year takes place just in time for everyone at The Amazing Blog offices and all of you to check off some names on your Christmas shopping list.

The vision behind Clerkenwell was a vintage ‘experience’ with traders from all over the globe. They also offer on-the-spot alterations, a vintage salon, personal shoppers, vintage style experts, resident artists, a florist and live music.

You’ll find a huge variety of products with over 50 stall holders containing designers dresses, pearl earrings, men’s silk ties, suits and pocket squares to vintage sewing patterns, haberdashery and more.

All of the traders are handpicked for selling top quality, authentic vintage, which will increase in value as time goes on; and when we say authentic vintage, we are talking about garments and accessories dating back to the 1800s. The newest accessories you will find are from the 1980s so trust us when we say that shopping at a vintage wonderland fair is the perfect way to find something that's one-of-a-kind. 

Plus, if you get tired of carrying around all of those shopping bags, you can sit down, relax and enjoy delicious food and refreshments in the English tea room.

It's about time you getting that Christmas shopping taken care of so make sure you attend Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair's last fair of the year on Sunday 23rd November between 11am – 5pm. It's £4 entry or £2 with an NUS card.

The Christmas Grand Sale

At The Amazing Blog, our excitement for Christmas is growing with every passing November day. With the shops starting to decorate and lights being strung along buildings and trees, we thought it would be appropriate to feature The Christmas Grand Sale. It is the perfect event to get some more inspiration for this year’s Christmas gift shopping.

The event will take place next week from 21^st-24^th November at Lindley Hall. This festive fair has an array of gifts from decorative home accessories to fashion pieces from 80 top quality gift companies. The emphasis of the event is on “individuality, style, and price.” This is the perfect opportunity to get even more gift ideas and spend the day shopping with family or  friends. The venue also offers shops with food to grab a quick lunch or snack as you walk around. The exhibitors will be displaying gifts from every department you can imagine. Unique items will be for sale from jewellery, fashion, and furniture to toys and homeware. Whether you’re looking for some stocking fillers, or larger presents, the Christmas Grand Sale is the place to find them!

On the opening night of the event, Wednesday 21^st November, there will be an exclusive sale where proceeds will go towards a charity. There will even be a prize ticket draw for £100 that evening. So why not jump on the bandwagon and start your Christmas shopping now. With incredible prices, the Christmas Grand Sale has a selection of gifts you won’t be able to get anywhere else. You can purchase tickets and view times for the event on their website here. We at The Amazing Blog love to get a head start on our Christmas shopping and feel The Christmas Grand Sale is a great place to start.

Christmas at Clifton Nurseries

If, like me, you want to get into the festive swing of things but are filled with dread at the thought of the inevitable crowds drawn to Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, or need to make a start on your Christmas Shopping but with rather gorge your eyes out with hot forks that pay Oxford Street a visit, then luck is at hand. Tucked away in a pocket of London beyond the hives of tourists in Covent Garden and Leicester Square is Clifton Nurseries, London's oldest and most beautiful garden centre, which dates back to 1851. Located in Little Venice (nearest tube is Warwick Avenue) it's known for being an oasis of tranquility that provides everything from outdoor plants to exotic indoor arrangements, and this year for the first time, Clifton Nurseries will be opening their doors to an enchanting Christmas Market. Held in the outdoor seating area, the nursery will be dressed up in all its Christmas finery and showcase seven independent and very stylish companies that will offer Christmas shoppers brilliant gift ideas and inspiration, in addition to those already found at the nursery.

The stalls will be able to satisfy even the most choosy of shoppers and there will be Christmas merriment a-plenty! For anyone with a sweet tooth, Baruzzo Fine Italian Chocolates offer an exlusive selection of the finest Italian chocolates, while Westbourne Grove resident Tom's Deli will be bringing oodles of Christmas treats including hampers and a selection of their favourite unique confectionary.

The handmade furniture and gifts from Emily Readett-Bayley include carved letters and her bespoke 'posh graffiti', both of which make perfect presents for someone wanting something a bit different. And with stalls including Tamara Fogle: Bags and Accessories, RS Currie & Co. Traditional Toyshop, Runaway Coast: Homes and Gifts and Prometheus Bound Books, there'll certainly be no excuse to dishing out novelty socks this Christmas.

The Clifton Nurseries Christmas Market is open on the first three weekends of December from 12-5.30pm on Fridays, 10-5.30pm on Saturdays and 11-5pm on Sundays and even better entry is free. See you there!